Manhole safety cage



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,974

J. GOFF MANHOLE SAFETY CAGE Filed MarchZl 1928 /NVE/YTR JESS GOFF Byj/wi ATTORNEYS Patented Get. 16v, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,688,0i4 PATENT OFFICE.

JESS GOFF, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO 0. R. BARTRAM,

OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MANHOLE SAFETY CAGE.

Application led March 21, 1928. Serial No. 263,263.

This invention relates to safety devices, and has for an obj ect the provision of a folding safety cage of the type adapted to be positioned about open manholes to prevent accidents which might result from such open manholes being left unguarded.

Another object is the provision of a safety cage as described, which is composed of a plurality of arcuate, or semi-circular bars pivote'd to supporting vertical barsin such a manner that the cage may optionally be extended to operative position with the arcuate bars disposed horizontally or folded fiat with the plane of the arcuate bars parallel to and closely adjacent that of the vertical bars so as to occupy a minimum of space when in folded position. Y

A further object of my invention is to improve upon the device heretofore employed,

for the purpose stated, and do so in such a way as to produce a safety cage which is simple and rugged in structure, is inexpensive to manufacture, is capable of being quickly set up in position about a manhole, and which, when once set up, offers a positive guard therefor.

With the foregoing and'other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically 'pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my iniproved folding safety cage in position upon a manhole.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cagein folded position.

Fig. 3 isa rear elevation of the folded cage of Fig. 2, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow 3 of that figure.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the folded cage, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow lof Fig. 2. y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view, showing` the ratcheted bracket for holding the cage in position about the man-V hole. Y

In terms of broad inclusion, the safety cage of my invention comprises a plurality of arcuate bars pivotally connected at each end to spaced front and rear vertical bars, permitting the cage to be extended with the arcuate bars -disposed horizontally to define y an enclosure or to be folded with the arcuate rear, vertical bar 7. Each group of bars 6 is provided withv a front vertical bar 8, and the other end of each of the arcuate bars 6 of the associated group is pivoted to its front vertical bar 8 for movement about a horizontal axis. For this purpose a strap 9 is assocfated with the front end of each of the arcuate bars 6, with a pivot pin 11 eX- tending through the ends of the strap 9 and through thel front end of the arcuate bar 6. The body of the strap 9'surrounds the associated front vertical bar 8 in such amanner as to provide a rigid7 horizontal pivot for the front end of the arcuate bar 6. y

The after end ofeach of the bars'6 is similarly pivoted by a horizontal pivot pin 12', to a strap l'extending around the rear vertical bar 7. In this instance, however, the

Astraps 13 are loosely mounted upon the rear vertical bar 7 permitting movement of the arcuate bars 6 about vert-ical aXes, as well as about horizontal axes, with the result that the front `vertical Abars 8 may be moved towards or away from each other.

A strap 15 is associated with each groupy of arcuate bars 6. Each ofthe straps 15 includes straight portions 16 rigidly connect-V ing journal portions 1,7 Which surround the associated arcuate bars 6 preferably midway bctweenthe endsthereof. The arcuate bars 6 are free toA turnwithin the journal portions 17 y which are so spaced by the straight portions 16 that the center portions of the arcuate'bars 6 arel alwaysthesame distance apart, irrespective of .whether moved to folded or extended position.A

.'An auxiliary strap 18 eXtends downwards fromv the bottom of each of the straps 15 surrounding the lowermost arcuate bar 6,4

and extendsr upwards on the other side of y the strap 15 to provide a foot for support-V A gate 2l is provided to close the space between the two front bars 8. ln their preferable forml the front bars 8 are tribes permitting the insertion of a bent-over portion or hook 22 into the vupper end of one of the front vertical bars 8, as the upper hinge for the gate 21. rl`he lower hinge for the gate 2l is in the form of a strap 23 loosely surrounding the same front vertical bar 8 and fastened adjacent the lower side of the gate 2l. A second bent-over portion or hook 24 is provided upon ther other Vside of the gate 2l adjacent its upper edge, this hook 24 being adapted to be inserted into the open end of the other front vertical baror tube to hold the gate-in closed position as Vclearly shown in Fig. l, f

It is tobe understood of course, 'that all the vertical bars Z and 8, and the arcuate bars 6, may be inade of tubingto produce a relatively light cage whichis possessed of all the rigidity and strength necessary to yield the desired protection.

Means Vfor locking the cage in extended position, and means for holding the cage while in extended position about an open manhole, are provided. A pin is secured by means of al chain 27 or its equivalent, to each of the straps l5. Tl ese pins are adapted to be inserted through a hole in one of the associated journals 17 into a hole in the arcuate bar 6 supported within that journal. These' holes are so positioned that they are brought into register when the arcuate bars are moved to horizontal position, or when the cage is in fully extended position. It may thus be seen that. folding of the cage is positively prevented with the removal of the pins 26.

A bracket 3l extends inwards fromone of the front vertical bars 8, this bracket being rigid with its supporting bar and having a depending foot 32 provided with vteeth 33. Another bracket 34- is slidable within a horizontal sleeve 36 which is rigid with the bottoni of the rear vertical bar 7. j A foot 37 depends from the inner end of vthe sliding bracket 34 and is provided with teeth 38 similar to the teeth 33 of the-other bracket 3l. The upper surface of the body 39 of the bracket 34 is provided with a plurality of V-shapcd notches l1 adapted tobe engaged 'by pointed ratchet which urged downwards by a spring 13 under compression between the top of the ratchet 4t2 and a pin 44 extending` rigidly across 'the rear vertical bar 7 at 'acent the bottoml thereof.y

An arm el@ is Apivoted by means of a hor Zontal pivotpin'll? adjacent the .bottoni of l one of the front vertical bars tl.v This armi6 is adapted toibe pressed downwards to a horizontal position to hold the two front vertical bars 3' in spaced relationship as shown in Fig. l, and is of such length that when so positioned, there is just room bereceparm 46 downwards to the position shown in Fig. l. rlhe cage is then positioned over the manhole kwith the foot 32 of the stationary bracketfl extending downwards against the inner edgeof the rim 49 of the manhole.V The other bracket 34 is then adjusted to .en-

the opposite side of the rim 49 to hold the safety cage in position about the open manhole. The arcuate bars 6 should be locked in extended position by inserting the locking pins 2G through the holes lin the journals 17 and associated arcuate bars G. rlhe door 2l may then be optionally opened or closed as above described.

lhen it is desired to remove the safety cage from the manhole, the .reverse :operation may be carried out. After folding the gate 2l inwards and liftingthe arm 46, Ythe two vertical bars 8 may be brought'together. Then, after removing the locking pins 26, the arcuate bars G `may be elevated to bring them into planes parallel to and closely adjacent the planes of the vertical bars so that the safety cage may be folded fiat vto occupy a vminimum space.

Various changes in :the details of .construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention .as delined bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A Ysafety cage for a manhole, vcomprising spaced front and rear vertical bars .and a plurality of bars pivotally connected :at each end to one of said vertical bars for movement about horizontal axes to optionally fold or extend the cage to operative position.

2. A safety cage for a manhole, comprisingspacedfront and rear vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivotally .connected at each end to one of said vertical bars for movement about horizontal axes to'optionally fold or ext-end the cage to operative posit-ion, and means for locking the arcuate bars in extended position.

3. Asafety cage for a manhole,comprising spaced front andv rear vertical barsiand a plurality of arcuate-bars pivotally kvconnected at each end to one of Vsaid verticalfbars for at each end to one of said vertical bars for movement about horizontal axes to optionally fold or extend the cage to operative position, said arcuate bars being disposed upon both sides of said vertical bars to define an enclosure when in extended position, and a strap pivotally connected to allof the arcuate bars of each group to hold them in spaced relationship.

5. A safety cage for a manhole, comprising spaced front and rear vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivotally connected at each end to one of said vertical bars for movement about horizontal axes to optionally fold or entend the cage to operative position, said arcuate bars being disposed upon both sides of said vert-ical bars to define an enclosure when in extended position, a strap. pivotally connected to all of the arcuate bars of each group Ato hold them in spaced relationship, and a pin adapted to beinserted through a hole in each of said' straps into'a hole in one of the associated arcuate bars to lock the cage in extended position.

6. A safety cage for a manhole, compris-v ing` spaced front and rear vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivotally connected at each end to one of said vertical bars for movement about horizontal axes to option- .lly fold or extend the cage to operative position, said arcuate bars being disposed upony sot-h sides of said vertical bars to define an enclosure when in extended position, a strap pivotally connected to all of the arcuate bars of each group to hold them in spaced relationship, a pin adapted to be inserted through a hole in each of said straps into a hole in one of the associated arcuate bars to lock the cage in extended position, and means for holding' the cage in position about a manhole,

7. A safety cage for a manhole, comprising a rear, vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars and a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar and at the other end to one of the front vertical bars for movement about a horizontal aXisto optionally fold'or extend the cage to operative position.

8. A safety cage for a manhole,'compris'.

ing a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar and at the other end to one of the front vertical bars for movement-,about a horizontal axis to optionally fold or eXtendthe cage to operative postion, and a gate pivoted to one of said front vertical bars and adapted to be swung` across the space between the vertical bars or to be opened therefrom..

9. A safety cage for a manhole,.compris ing a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar and at the other end to one of the front vertical bars for movement about a horizon.- tal axis to optionally fold or extend the cage to operative position, a gate pivoted to one of said front. vertical bars and adapted to be swung across the space between the'vertical bars or to beopened therefrom, and means for holding the cage in position about a manhole.

10. A safety cage for a manhole, comprising a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar and at the other end to one of the front vertical bars for movement about a horfzontal axis to optionally fold or extend the cage to operative position, means for locking the arcuate bars in. extended position, a gate pivoted` to one of said front vertical bars and adapted to be swung across the space rbetween the vertical bars or to be opened therefrom, and meansv for holding the cagevin position about a manhole.

11. A safety cage for` a manhole, comprising a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar and at the other end to one of the front vertical bars for movement about a horizontal axis to optionally fold or extend the cage to operative position, and a strap pivotally connected to the center portion of the arcuate bars connected to each front vertical barto reltain the arcuate bars in spaced relations 1p.

12. A safety cage for a manhole, comprising a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar for movement about vertical-and horizontal axes, and at theother end to one of the front vertical bars for movement about'vertical swung across the space'between the vertical bars or to be opened therefrom.

14. A safety cage for a manhole, comprising a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced front vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bars pivoted at one endv to the rear vertical bar for movement about vertical and horizontal axes,

and at the other end to vone of the front vertical bars for movement about vertical axes,

adapted to extend across the Space to the other `bar to hold them in Spacec relationship.

l5. A safety cage for a manhole, comprising a rear vertical bar, a pair ot spaced front vertical bars, a plura. L of arcuate bars pivoted at one end to the rear vertical bar for movement about vertical and hoi'i- Zohtal axes and at the other end to one of the front vertical bars for movement about vertical axes, a gate pivoted to one ot Said front vertical bars and adapted to be swung' across the space between the vertical bars or to be opened therefrom, an arm pivoted adjacent` the bottom ot one oi said liront bars and adapted to extend across the space to the otherbai to hold them in spaced relationship, and a bracket carried by each of two'of said vertical bare adapted to engage the edge of said manhole to retain th l cage in position thereabout.

16. A safety cage `tor a manhole, comprising a rear vertical bar, a pair of spaced tront vertical bars, a plurality of arcuate bare' opened therefrom, an arm pivoted adiacenty the bottom of one of said front bars and adapted to extend across the space to the other bar to rhold them in spaced relationship, a vbracket carried by each ot tivo ot said vertical bars and adapted to engage the edge o1 said manhole to retain the cage in position thereabout, one of said bracket-e beadjustable in respect to its 'ei'iective length, and ratchet means toi Aholding Said adjustable bracket in selected position.

iin testimony whereof have signed my name tothis specification.

JESS Goeie; 

